Differences between Soft Links and Hard Links in Unix

Soft links (symlinks) and hard links are both ways to create references to files in Unix systems, but they differ in how they work and when they should be used.

Soft Links (Symbolic Links)

• Soft links are simply pointers to the target file or directory.
• They can span filesystems and across different devices.
• If the original file is deleted, the soft link will no longer work.
• Can link to directories or files.

Hard Links

• Hard links are direct references to the physical location of the file on the disk.
• They cannot span filesystems and must be on the same device.
• If the original file is deleted, the hard link will still work as it points to the same data blocks.
• Cannot link to directories, only files.

When to Use Each One

Soft links are typically used when you need to create a reference to a file that may be located in a different directory or filesystem. They are also useful for linking directories. On the other hand, hard links are more efficient in terms of storage space as they reference the same data blocks, but they can only be used within the same filesystem.

Understanding the differences between soft links and hard links in Unix can help you choose the appropriate method based on your specific needs and constraints.